Slide fasteners



Feb. 7, 1967 G. WALDES SLIDE FASTENERS Filed June 25, 1965 INVENTOR l United States Patent O 3,302,259 SLIDE FASTENERS George Waldes, Long Island City, N.Y., assignor to Waldes Kohinoor, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed .lune 25, 1965, Ser. No. 467,001 5 Claims. (Cl. 24E-205.13)

This invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners, and more particularly in that class of such fasteners known as tapeless slide fasteners and in the structure of the individual fastener elements or scoops in part making up the latter.

Tapeless slide fasteners such as are exemplified by the Winterhalter United States Patent No. 2,380,623 have numerous advantages over the conventional slide fastener whose rows of interlocking fastener elements are aixed to the beaded edges of fabric tapes and the latter are in turn secured as by sewing to the material of the garment or article extending along the edges of the opening thereof served by the fastener. Among such advantages may be noted the saving in cost of the tapes themselves and the elimination of the problems involved in matching the colors of tapes and garment, the solution of which in turn eliminates the problem of maintaining large stocks of slide fasteners in many colors of tapes. Being lighter in weight and less bulky than conventional slide fasteners, the tapeless slide fasteners also offer savings in transportation costs and are better suited to lightweight materials and/ or garments made from such materials than are the conventional slide fasteners.

Another important advantage of the tapeless slide fastener over the conventional slide fastener employing element-carrying fabric tapes is that when ultimately applied to garments, the tapeless slide fastener solves the problem of the fabric tapes and the material of the garment to which they are sewn reacting differently to the processing to which both are usually subjected to render them as shrinkproof and creaseproof as possible. Obviously, if fastener tape and garment materials shrink differently or if they are crease-resistant to a different degree, folds or inaccuracies are likely to result which are not only unpleasant to the eye `but also may impair the effectiveness of the closure.

However, the known tapeless slide fasteners have proved to be ineffective in realizing the potential of such a fastener as stated above. Such results from the fact that, generally speaking, the prior tapeless slide fasteners were characterized by extensions on the individual fastener elements of the rows thereof which were somehow, usually by exposed zig-zag stitching, secured to the material of the garment or article extending along the edges of the opening thereof served by the fastener. The sewing by zigzag stitches was very slow and was also objectionable because such a stitch did not sew through every interval between the fastener element extensions, so that the resulting fastener was unreliable. Still another drawback to the known forms of fastener-element attachment without the use of tapes was that the slider for activating the fastener was required to extend over onto the edge of the garment or article to which the fastener-element extensions were sewn. Such resulted not only in the slider ultimately damaging and even wearing away the exposed stitches, consequent to its riding thereon when actuated to open and close the fastener, but also, particularly in the case of the garment or article material being of thickness approximating the width of the side slots of the slider body, in the slider being difficult to operate.

Stated broadly, a major object of the invention is the provision of a so-called tapeless slide fastener, i.e. one characterized by the individual fastener elements or scoops of the rows thereof being constructed and arranged so c ICC as to be secured directly to the edges of the opening in the garment or other article served by the fastener, which overcomes the drawbacks and objections to the known tapeless slide fasteners and which thereby realizes the potential of such a fastener as explained above in simple, effective and thoroughly dependable manner.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of novel fastener-element configuration and/ or structure which adapts same for vuse in a tapeless slide fastener and, more particularly, to being sewn directly to the material of a garment or other article extending along an opening therein to be closed and opened Iby a slideractivated slide fastener made up in part of rows of the fastener elements.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novel fastener-element configuration and/or structure as aforesaid which is such as ena-bles said elements to be secured by a row of straight stitches, rather than lines of zig-zag lines of stitching, and which further insures against the threads of the stitches being worn or damaged by slider movement and also makes provision for the reception and accommodation of the edge of the garment or other article to which the fastener element is to be sewn.

The above and other objects and features of advantage of a tapeless slide fastener and of a fastener element for use therewith according to the present invention will `appear from the following detailed description thereof taken with the accompanying illustrative drawing, wherein- PIG. l is a fragmentary front view of a partially open slide fastener and corresponding portion of the garment or other article to which the fastener elements of the fastener are directly attached;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front View of a short length portion of the closed end of the fastener;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 2, the slider for activating the fastener being shown in phantom; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred configuration of the individual fastener elements in part making up the fastener shown in the preceding views.

` Referring to the drawings in detail, a tapeless slide fastener as herein contemplated comprises: a slide-fastener chain consisting of two tapeless stringers designated 10 and 12, which in turn comprise the longitudinal cords 14, 16 carrying rows of oppositely disposed fastener elements 18, 20; and a slider 22 for engaging and disengaging the oppositely disposed fastener elements, thereby to close and open the fastener, respectively.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the fastener elements 18, 20 are each formed with a conventional head portion 24 having a coupling protrusion 26 on its relatively upper face and a coupling protrusiOn-receiving recess 28 on its relatively under face, and with' a shank portion designated 30 terminating in an attaching end shown to comprise coacting clamping legs 32a, 32b which, in the case of the fastener elements being made of metal, are initially spread apart but in final assembly are brought together about the cord 14 or 16 with which said element is associated, and being thereby clampingly secured to said cord. Of course, if the fastener elements are of plastic and formed in the conventional way, they are preferably cast directly about and thereby secured to their associated cord during the operation by which they themselves are cast.

Although the drawing shows the fastener elements of a row thereof clamped or otherwise assembled on a single `cord 14 or 16, such does not exclude the use of plural cords per row of fastener elements, .as in general the number of cords per row will depend on the particular application to which the slide fastener is put.

According to the present invention and as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the aforesaid shank portions 30 of the fastener elements 18, are unconventional in their configuration in that, although extending symmetrically from their head portions 24, they have front-to-rear thickness appreciably less than the front-to-rear thickness of their respective head portions, and they are separated from said head portions by right-angled shoulders designated 34a, 34b which face outwardly or away from said head portions.

Furthermore, the relatively outer ends of the shank portions of said coupling elements which in general constitute the element-attaching ends thereof have reduced thickness as compared to the front-to-rear thickness of the shank portions proper, i.e. the portions thereof immediately adjacent the coupling head portions 34. Such results in said outer ends being defined front and rear by the set-back surfaces designated 36a, 36b running across the front and rear faces of the shank portions. Preferably also, said set-back surfaces are traversed by thread grooves designated 38a, 38h.

With the above described structure and configuration of the fastener elements 18 and 20 in mind, and referring to FIG. 3 in particular, it will be observed firstly that either the front or rear set-back surfaces 36a, 36h (illustratively the rear set-back surfaces 36h) of the plurality of fastener elements making up the two rows thereof per each fastener provide for the accommodation of the edges E1 and E2 of the garment or other article to which the tapeless stringers 10 and 12 of the invention are to be secured. Such securement is then effected by rows of straight (as distinguished from zig-gag) stitches designated 40 which are passed through the material of said edges in the intervals between fastener elements and thence about the attaching ends of said fastener elements. In passing outwardly over or about said attaching ends, the stitches will lie within the grooves 38a or 3811 extending across the set-back surfaces disposed opposite the material-accommodating set-back surface. Accordingly, said stitches, and particularly the portions thereof which are exposed, are given a high degree of protection by the very fact that they hug the bottoms of the grooves which they traverse.

Another noteworthy feature of advantage stemming from the structure and configuration of fastener elements as above described when applied to tapeless slide fasteners is that the slider 22 never rides on the edges of the material extending along the garment or article opening served by the fastener or even on the stitches 40 which secure the fasteners to said material. Instead, the slider rides on the shank portions 30 of the fastener elements along which it is positively guided by engagement of its wing anges 22a, 22h which define the slider side-slots with the relatively outwardly facing shoulders 34a, 34b. Thus, the problem of the material of the garment or other article being too thick to be accommodated lin the slider side-slots is positively overcome.

Without further description, it Will be appreciated that a tapeless slide fastener or Zipper as herein described and illustrated, and which makes use of the unique structure and configuration of fastener element also herein described and illustrated, satisfies the objects of the invention as stated in the foregoing in simple yet thoroughly practical and dependable manner. However, as variations in the parts and their relationship are possible, it is ,i. intended that all matter described in the above and illustrated in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

l claim:

1. A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapeless .string-l ers each consisting of a longitudinal cord and a plu rality of individual fastener elements disposed in row formation affixed thereto, the fastener elements of the two rows thereof being oppositely disposed and having coupling head portions adapted to be engaged and disengaged with one another and shank portions terminating in cord attaching portions, a slider for engaging and disengaging said coupling head portions of the oppositely disposed fastener elements in accordance with its movement therealong, the shank portions of the fastener elements each having at least one of the upper and under surfaces thereof formed with a set-back area providing for the reception and accommodation of the edge of the garment or other article dening the opening therein served by the fastener and to which the cord carrying said elements and all elements of the same row thereof are sewn in use of said fastener.

2. A slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein each said set-back area is traversed by a groove for seating the threads of the stitching by which the element-carrying cord and elements are sewn to the garment edge.

3. A slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the shank portions of the fastener elements have lesser frontto-rear thickness than the coupling head portions thereof, and the latter are separated from the formerby substantially right-angular, relatively outwardly facing shoulders, and wherein the side flanges of the slider engage eX- clusively against said shoulders and on the front and rear surfaces of the shank portions which are disposed immediately adjacent said shoulders and thus relatively inwardly of the threads of the stitching which secures the cords and fastener elements to the garment edge,

4. A fastener element for a slider-operated fastener comprising a coupling head portion having a coupling protrusion and a complementary protrusion-receiving recess in its upper and under faces, respectively, and a relatively rearwardly extending shank portion of lesser frontto-rear thickness than said coupling head portion and being separated from the latter by substantially rightangular, outwardly facing shoulders, and terminating outwardly in an attaching portion for aflixing the element to a cord, Said attaching portion having front and rear surfaces which are set back from the corresponding faces of the shank portion proper, thereby to accommodate the edge portions of an article to which said fastener element and cord are to be sewn.

5. A fastener element according to claim 4, wherein the set-back surfaces of the attaching portion of the element are traversed by grooves for receiving attaching threads looped over said attaching portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A, GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SLIDE FASTENER COMPRISING A PAIR OF TAPELESS STRINGERS EACH CONSISTING OF A LONGITUDINAL CORD AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL FASTENER ELEMENTS DISPOSED IN ROW FORMATION AFFIXED THERETO, THE FASTENER ELEMENTS OF THE TWO ROWS THEREOF BEING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED AND HAVING COUPLING HEAD PORTIONS ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SHANK PORTIONS TERMINATING IN CORD ATTACHING PORTIONS, A SLIDER FOR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING SAID COUPLING HEAD PORTIONS OF THE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FASTENER ELEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS MOVEMENT THEREALONG, THE SHANK PORTIONS OF THE FASTENER ELEMENTS EACH HAVING AT LEAST ONE OF THE UPPER AND UNDER SURFACES THEREOF FORMED WITH A SET-BACK AREA PROVIDING FOR THE RECEPTION AND ACCOMMODATION OF THE EDGE OF THE GARMENT OF OTHER ARTICLE DEFINING THE OPENING THEREIN SERVED BY THE FASTENER AND TO WHICH THE CORD CARRYING SAID ELEMENTS AND ALL ELEMENTS OF THE SAME ROW THEREOF ARE SEWN IN USE OF SAID FASTENER. 